Leinster Squad Update...

The Leinster squad trained in UCD on Tuesday afternoon as the province build up for Saturday afternoon's Amlin Challenge Cup semi final against Biarritz Olympique in the RDS (KO: 2.30pm)...

Richardt Strauss received a stamp on his left hand during Sunday's bonus point victory away to Zebre but the Ireland hooker will be fine by Saturday.

The province will be in a position to welcome back a number of internationals who were rested for trip to Italy, including Sean Cronin, Gordon D'Arcy, Cian Healy, Jamie Heaslip, Ian Madigan, Sean O'Brien and Mike Ross, as well as skipper Leo Cullen.

Fergus McFadden and Jonathan Sexton both successfully came through their respective comeback games at the weekend but Dave Kearney has yet to return to on-field training, so he is rated as unlikely to be considered for selection.

Meanwhile, Leinster Academy out-half Cathal Marsh - who made his debut as a late replacement for Sexton - became the 52nd player to feature for the senior squad so far this term. Saturday's game will be the sixth meeting between the two sides, with Leinster shading the contests by three to two.

The team will be named at midday on Friday following the Captain's Run.

There are now over 17,600 tickets sold and with Saturday's game set to be a sell-out, supporters are advised that tickets are still available ONLINE HERE, the Leinster Rugby Store (Donnybrook), Spar (Donnybrook) as well as Ticketmaster outlets nationwide.

Over 50 bags of Canterbury kit were dropped off to Leinster Rugby HQ today ahead of the final five weeks of pre-season which gets underway next week at the open training session in Edenderry RFC on Tuesday.

Ian Hirst, Royce Burke Flynn and Tony Ryan, who all play their club rugby with Clontarf FC, recently spoke to Leinster TV about playing in the All Ireland League and earning professional contracts with Leinster.